Donald Trump's pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, is facing stiff criticism from Democrats—but most Republicans back him.

Conservatives erupted Tuesday on social media following an exchange between Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth and freshman Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., regarding gender identity.

Hegseth was voted out of committee Monday along party lines. The Senate is expected to take up his nomination soon; it is unclear how these new allegations will alter the trajectory of his nomination.

As senators weigh the Pentagon nominee's fate, the former Fox News host is dealing with yet another personal controversy.

Pete Hegseth, military analyst at Twenty-First Century Fox Inc. and US secretary of defense nominee for US President-elect Donald Trump, during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Kent Nishimura)

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) reaffirmed his pressure on President-elect Trump’s Department of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth and said he asked tough questions last week because his Republican colleagues needed to hear the answers.

The nominee can only afford to lose three GOP senators if Democrats unite against him so attention could now shift to Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins and other potential swing votes.

Senate Armed Services Committee Democrats are fuming as Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s controversial pick to lead the Pentagon, is set to head back to Capitol Hill on Tuesday for his

Senators vetting Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary received an affidavit from a former sister-in-law alleging his second wife feared for her safety.

A cloud of controversy has hung over Hegseth, but he now appears to be on track to be confirmed as Trump's defense secretary.

Hegseth, 44, is a combat veteran and former Fox News host. The committee voted along party lines to advance his nomination to the full Senate.